Syracuse Football is painting New York City orange as the New Era Pinstripe Bowl fast approaches. Thursday started in Times Square with breakfast at the Hard Rock Café, and then it was off to the New York Stock Exchange. In what's become an honor for many of New York city's treasured guests, head coach Doug Marrone and Syracuse's four captains, Sirki Diabate, Ryan Nassib, Justin Pugh and Shamarko Thomas, got to ring the opening bell.
"It's weird," admitted SU's quarterback Nassib, "you learn about this in class all four years and then you show up and you are here."
It was fitting for Nassib to be overlooking the stock exchange floor, having earned a dual degree in finance and managerial accounting from Syracuse in May 2012. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in accounting.
"It was nerve wrecking," added Nassib, "they told us it that only four or five people have messed it up since they started doing it in 1995. I wanted to make sure I wasn't the sixth."
Syracuse faces West Virginia in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl this Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is 3:15 p.m, and the game is being televised live on ESPN.
